Are we lukewarm?

I am reading this book right now and if you have even a small desire to grow closer to God, you MUST read it.  It is impacting me every time I pick it up. I only have a few chapters left  but I wanted to share one chapter I read that really got me thinking.  The title is called "Profile of the Lukewarm."


Francis Chan offered descriptions of what a "lukewarm" person would look like and then would back it up with scripture.  You may not like what he has to say, but really search you heart for why.  I had to and I can honestly say I have at times been a "lukewarm" Christian.

• Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly because it is "just what we do." (Isa. 29:13)
• Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church as long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living. (1 Chron. 21:24)
• Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. (Luke 6:26)
• Lukewarm people don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. (John 10:10)
• Lukewarm people are moved by stories about people who do radical things for christ, yet they do not act.  That is for the "extreme" christians not average ones. (James 1:22)
• Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends for fear of rejection. (Matt. 10:32-33)
• Lukewarm people say they love Jesus and that He is, indeed, a part of their lives but only a part.  God is only given a section of their time, money, and thought, but He isn't allowed to control their lives. (Luke 9:57-62)
• Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength.  That sort of devotion isn't for the average person; it's only for pastors, missionaries and radicals. (Matt. 22:37-38)
• Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. (Matt. 5: 43-47)
• Lukewarm people are thankful for their luxuries and comforts and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor. (Matt. 25:34,40)
• Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty.  They want to do the bare minimum to be "good enough" without it requiring too much of them. (1 Chron. 29:14)
• Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe, they are slaves to the god of control. (1 Tim. 6:17-18)
• Lukewarm people do not live by faith; their lives are structures so they never have to. (Luke 12:16-21)
• Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren't very different from your typical unbeliever. (Matt. 23:25-28)

Are you a "Lukewarm Christian? Have there been times when you fit the mold of one of the above descriptions? We are all "messed up" at times but our main goal as Christians should be to love God and love People.

At the beginning of the next chapter Francis Chan mentions "lukewarm christians' in this way: "As I see it, a lukewarm Christian is an oxymoron; there's no such things. To put it plainly, churchgoers who are "lukewarm" are not Christians.  We will not see them in heaven. In Revelation 3:15 -16 Jesus says,"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth."


Is it really worth beginning a 'lukewarm Christian or should we risk it all for HIM?"